There may be a delay in some deliveries ...

I have just been looking at the Google earth images of the southern part of the canal, they seem to be up to date. There is no sign of a alternate route. The sweetwater canal is 1/10 of the width with lots of low bridges, so that can't be the answer.

Blow me, there is a new bit, the GE is out of date.

https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/87948/the-new-suez-canal

Edited By old mart on 25/03/2021 17:16:35

The new part was opened in 2015. You can see it clearly on Google Maps. Suez

regards

You would think that GE imagery marked copyright 2021 would be up to date.

Apparently some of the images on GE are the original ones first used in the first release of the software. They are areas considered to be of little importance or of military interest after release date so are not updated.

regards

In respect of a parallel canal, yes there is one but it doesn’t cover the full length of the canal at the moment, the section with the affected grounding is only single, the parallel section to it has yet to be built, so traffic is definitely halted.

Been through the Suez a number of times and every ship transiting has to take on a pilot before entering the canal, so responsibility for the mishap could be joint between the pilot and helmsman.

The canal was closed for a considerable time in 1957 when it was nationalised by Egypt and we went to war over it. I was on one of the first ships to transit when it reopened, there were quite a number of ships that had been blown up and were pulled to the side of the canal to allow ships to start reusing it.

In 1967 as a result of the June 67 war with Israel, the canal was again closed for a considerable time, unfortunately a number of ships were trapped in there. I was in Trucial Oman at the time and a number of parcels that I was waiting for were trapped as well on board ships carrying mail, I never did receive the parcels so who knows where they ended up. Dave W

Winds on the side of one of those ships could give very little time for anyone to keep the vessel lined up with the canal, even if the bowthrusters were used. It was a sandstorm that caused the grounding. I am surprised that incidents of this nature are not more common.

Looking again at the map shown in the early posts, the ship seems to be located at the southern end of the canal. That is what fooled me, the doubled section is much further north.

Edited By old mart on 25/03/2021 20:36:36

Recent satellite photos : **LINK**

https://www.space.com/stuck-ship-suez-canal-satellite-photos

MichaelG.

Yeah but....

We all know how the media hype up any reports but it is an important navigation route.

My first thoughts were of the nationality of the crew ......

Like THIS report? Tricky extraction of the occupants, maybe, but that truck was fairly well secured by the trucker (first on the scene?) who used his tie-down chains to hook the truck to his rig. Just compare the size of the dangling truck to the dumper secured (by the same chains) on that artic trailer.

Edited By not done it yet on 26/03/2021 07:44:15

Update:

**LINK**

https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-egypt-suezcanal-ship-japan-idUKKBN2BI11Q

MichaelG.

I was right all the time, and confused by the reports of the second channel being used. It wasn't, that channel is much further north. No wonder I thought that Google earth was out of date, it isn't, the ship is stuck near Suez.

It’s not going very well ... **LINK**

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/refloat-attempt-stranded-mega-vessel-fails-blocking-suez-canal-b926514.html

MichaelG.

It appears that the original reported position of the ship was incorrect. The ship is located in the canal between the Great Bitter Lake and the dualed section so my above statement is not valid. I stand corrected.

regards

Some of the reports on the web were incorrect as to the location, it is a shame that the southern bit has not yet been dualled, this will certainly get another new section cut very soon.

The ship is only a few miles north of the entrance from the Red Sea.

Edited By old mart on 27/03/2021 16:10:08

Interesting update [with some great images] from the New York Times: **LINK**

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/03/27/world/suez-canal-stuck-ship

MichaelG.

That is the best link so far, Michael. I notice they are hoping for an 18" increase in water level with the spring tide. Between now and Tuesday, the increase here will be 47", but I live next to the Bristol Channel. This spring high will be 12.7 metres, my house is at 6 metres.

Edited By old mart on 27/03/2021 20:14:03

Damn! That's the delivery of JST-XH crimpers I ordered recently gone for a burton then The 3D printer mods will have to wait...

Excellent coverage the other side of the most painful tracker wall I have yet to encounter.

Nah, not uncle Albert, this is the real captain

El Capitano

Edited By duncan webster on 28/03/2021 16:47:53